5:42 a.m. Monday UPDATE from the Ellis County Fire Department
At approximately 3:20 pm Sunday, the Ellis County Fire Department was requested for mutual aid for a large grass fire approaching Ellis County from Ness County. Shortly after arriving on scene, fire crews identified the fire had already entered Ellis County. Many of the fire companies in Ellis County were already responding to three other fire calls for service. As fire crews arrived on scene in southwest Ellis County, crews were met with 60+ MPH winds and low visibility due to smoke and dust. The location of the fire was in a remote area where the fire was difficult to access as it is open range with very limited county roads.
At 5:47 pm, the Ellis County Commission Chair Butch Schlyer approved a disaster declaration due to the size of the fire, and its movement to more populated areas of Ellis County. This process allows for more resources from the State to be requested for assistance.
All the Ellis County Fire Department was on scene, to include over 20 fire apparatus and 52 firefighters. The fire department was supported by the Ellis County EMS, Public Works, and Sheriff’s office. Mutual aid assistance was also used from the Hays Fire Department and the Trego, Ness, and Rush County Fire Departments, as well as the Kansas Forestry Service.
Contact was made with the Office of the State Fire Marshall to request a fire investigation to the cause and origin of the fire. Due to the fire’s origin in Ness County, no further information is available. Current estimates show about 8,500 acres burnt in Ellis County. It is also not yet currently known how much burned in Ness and Trego Counties.
In addition to the efforts of the firefighters, a great impact to the success of extinguishing the fire was from the many different farmers on scene with farm implements and local business who hauled water to the fire department. Preliminary damage assessments show that no homes were lost in the fire. One firefighter was treated by Ellis County EMS and transported to Hays Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
A majority of the fire crews were released just after midnight; however, some fire crews and sheriff deputies remain on scene to monitor the area for any flare ups. Additional fire crews will be back on scene on Monday to continue with extinguishing hot spots.
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At around 8:00 p.m. a wildfire continued tracking along the southwest corner of Ellis County and heading northeasterly.
Efforts have been underway since around 4 p.m. to protect life and property in the area including efforts by fire fighting crews and area farmers as they plow in front of the fire line.
Strong winds have quickly push the fireline across the area.
Travel in the area is advised against, especially in the area from 140th to 180th and Antonino.
Houses that are being threatened are being evacuated. The sheriff's department is updating residents in the area as needed.
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6:11 p..m. UPDATE: Fire is now in the area of 150th and Grants Villa in Ellis County. The area is being disked. A structure is under threat.
RELATED: Winds fan Sunday wildfires across western Kansas
Hays Post
At 4:12 p.m. Sunday, the Ellis County Sheriff's Office reported a large fire in the southwest part of Ellis County.
The public has been asked to avoid the area near Ellis Avenue and the Rush County line.
Antonio Road has also been identified as an area to avoid.
The fire was reported to be moving very fast, according to Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
